Sanctuary Runners Partners With Olympic Refuge Foundation
The partnership will develop a global toolkit to help cities establish their own Sanctuary Runners groups, starting in Dakar, Senegal.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Running
Sanctuary Runners, a running group that uses running to build bridges between people of different backgrounds and nationalities, signed a partnership with the Olympic Refuge Foundation during the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. The partnership funds a toolkit called 'Sanctuary Runners-in-a-box' to help cities worldwide start their own groups.
Why it matters
The partnership aims to extend a community-based model born in Cork into a global network, with the first African group planned for Dakar. It signals how sport-based inclusion initiatives may be replicated across cities worldwide.
Sanctuary Runners has grown to 44 groups across Ireland since being set up in Cork in 2018, and the Global Solidarity Run has drawn participants in almost 100 countries over the last three years. The partnership's funding amount and toolkit timeline were not disclosed.
The players
Sanctuary Runners
A running group founded in Cork in 2018 that uses running to connect people of different backgrounds and nationalities, now operating 44 groups across Ireland.
Olympic Refuge Foundation
An organization founded by the International Olympic Committee to support refugees through sport and create opportunities for displaced people.
The details
The partnership was announced at a Global Solidarity Run event in central Dakar, attended by members of the Youth Olympic Refugee team. The Global Solidarity Run initiative is supported by Irish Aid, the European Commission and the Ireland Funds.
Timeline
2018: Sanctuary Runners is set up in Cork.
Last three years: Global Solidarity Run participation spans almost 100 countries.
Friday: Partnership announced at the Dakar Global Solidarity Run event.
Season Trajectory
The partnership places Sanctuary Runners within the Olympic Refuge Foundation's broader refugee-support efforts, which the International Olympic Committee founded to use sport for inclusion. The move expands a grassroots Irish model into an international framework tied to the Olympic movement.
Cities interested in launching their own Sanctuary Runners group could use the forthcoming toolkit as a starting framework. Participation in the existing Global Solidarity Run is already open to people in almost 100 countries.
The takeaway
Sport can serve as a low-barrier way to connect people across backgrounds, and a replicable toolkit may let communities worldwide adapt this model. Readers interested in participating can look for local Sanctuary Runners or Global Solidarity Run groups in their own cities.
Further reading
For more on community running programs, explore Running coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Irish Examiner.
